2 'criminals' killed in 'gunfights'

Two alleged criminals were killed in “gunfights” with detectives in Narayanganj and Kushtia early yesterday.

They are Moniruzzaman Shahin alias "Bonduk" Shahin, 40, of Narayanganj, and Shahinur Rahman, 30, of Kushtia.

Both of them stood accused in criminal cases, report our Narayanganj and Kushtia correspondents, quoting police.

In Narayanganj, Moniruzzaman was killed during a “gunfight” with detectives around 4:30am. The "gunfight" took place when a team of the Detective Branch of police raided a drug den at Galachipa in Narayanganj city, said Md Sharifuddin, additional superintendent of police in the district.

Two DB officials, including Officer-in-Charge of Narayanganj DB Mahbubur Rahman, were hurt in the incident, he claimed.

The police official also claimed to have recovered a pistol and four bullets from the spot.

In Kushtia, Shahin, an accused of killing Malaysia expatriate Rafiqul Islam, was arrested in his village home early Thursday, according to police.

Rafiqul was killed on Wednesday night over family feuds, police said. Police suspected that Shahin was a hired to murder Rafiqul.

Sabbirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Kushtia DB, said after gleaning information from Shahin, a DB team with him went to Shelaidah in Kumarkhali upazila to arrest other killers of Rafiqul.

Shahin's accomplices opened fire on the DB men when they reached Kashba village around 3:30am. A “shootout” took place when the law enforcers retaliated, the police official said.

Shahin was caught in the line of fire and died when he was trying to flee from the police van, the DB official added.

Police claimed to have recovered a pistol, four bullets and a machete from the spot.

Shahin's father confirmed that his son was arrested from home. Yesterday morning, they came to know that his son was killed in a "gunfight", he added.